Brawley Receives Award at Ohio North South All-Star Game

At the end of the 2021 season Austin Brawley was named 1st Team All-Ohio for his exceptional play on the defensive side of the ball.  This time around however, in the annual Ohio North South All-Star Football Game played at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium, he was named Offensive Player of the Game, in a contest that the North won 39-18.  Although no official statistiss were recorded, Brawley did catch six passes, one of which was a long bomb that set up a touchdown, and he recovered an onside kick at the end of the game.  Two gains were called back due to penalties: a difficult 25-yard over-the-shoulder catch along the sideline and a 15-yard touchdown on a toss-sweep when he lined up at the tailback position.  In addition, Brawley played half-time on defense and on special teams.  All in a day’s work for the future Kent State Golden Flash.

Brawley joined Massillon offensive lineman Jaiden Woods on the winning team.

Other notable players in the game included Austintown Fitch quarterback Devin Sherwood, who threw four touchdown passes and was named the team’s Most Valuable Player, and Green wide receiver Trey Martin, who grabbed two of those scoring tosses.

Carl F. “Ducky” Schroeder; A Legend Among Legends

Written By Mike Riordan

Carl F. “Ducky” Schroeder

A Legend Among Legends

“DUCKY WAS A FOOTBALL LEGEND WHERE IT IS DIFFICULT TO BE A LEGEND: MASSILLON.  WHEN WE MOVED TO MASSILLON, I QUICKLY LEARNED WHAT A TREASURE HE WAS.  HE WAS VERY WARM AND WELCOMING TO OUR FAMILY.  A GREAT TIGER LEGEND, ON AND OFF THE FIELD.”

Chris Spielman – March 17, 2022

“Ducky”.   Massillon.   Two names that exemplify champions, winners, leaders, legendary, the best of the best. Two names that stand apart, yet are forever joined together. Among heroes, champions, winners, leaders and the best of the best, this is where “Ducky” will always be remembered; as a legend among legends.

How is it that a young boy from Canal Fulton, Ohio, would end up amongst some of the most famous and influential men in all of football? Who would have guessed that his influence would expand well beyond Massillon; being recognized nationally as Mr. Football in Ohio?  What life choices would guide him and eventually usher him into the Massillon Washington High School Wall of Champions?

IN THE BEGINNING

Carl “Ducky” Schroeder’s father Fred was born in 1868 in Hessen, Germany, and moved to America in 1880 at the early age of twelve. Taking up the trade of a butcher, he eventually owned The Meat Market in Canal Fulton. “Ducky’s” mother, Elizabeth Ruehling, was born in Oberschupf, Germany, in 1872.  At the age of 17 she immigrated to America, enduring six long weeks by way of steerage at the bottom of a ship, with animals, manure and unthinkable smell. Later, Fred and Elizabeth became a couple and married in 1902, welcoming their first son, Carl, on March 25, 1905.

As a boy, Carl enjoyed swimming in the Ohio and Erie Canal and the Tuscarawas River in his hometown, Canal Fulton. When he emerged onto dry land, he would walk like a duck, earning the moniker, “Ducky”.  All of his life then he would be known as “Ducky”, and not so much as a nickname but as a precious identifier.

His athletic career began at Canal Fulton High School. Quickly noticed as a standout athlete, “Ducky” was asked to come play for Massillon. So in 1923, prior to his senior year, he took his talent to Massillon to play football (fullback, linebacker), baseball (pitcher) and basketball for the Tigers.

“I made some sort of reputation in Canal Fulton, so that Massillon became interested in my ability and asked me if I would like to play there,” Schroeder said.  “Massillon was blazing a trail of glory at that time. If there was anyone I wanted to play with at that time, it was Massillon. In the area surrounding Massillon, you could say that about any boy.  I was lucky enough to have a chance to do that.  If I hadn’t played at Massillon, I would have never received a chance to go to college.” (1)

CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE

If you were able to choose, from this list of great men, a positive influence as a guide thru life, who would you choose?  Pick; one should be enough.

Paul Brown?   (Father of Modern Football, Multiple Championships and HOF coach)

Knute Rockne?  (Multiple Championships, player and HOF coach)

Jim Thorpe?  (Greatest athlete possibly of all time, Multiple Championships and HOF player and coach)

Pop Warner?  (Multiple Championships and HOF coach)

Bill Edwards?  (Multiple Championships and HOF player and coach)

 (Selected in 1958 as the “Greatest Massillon Tiger of all Time” and Bill Belichick’s Godfather)

Woody Hayes?  (Multiple Championships and HOF coach)

Don Fletcher?  (Multiple Championships and HOF coach)

Dave Stewart? (Multiple Championships and HOF coach)

(Coached Paul Brown, Bill Edwards, Don Fletcher, Harry Stuhldreher among other greats)

General Douglas MacArthur? (Army 5 Star General, 10 Commands Held, 11 Battles /Wars, Mexican Revolution, World War I, World War II, Korean War) (22 Major Military Awards / Medals)

So who do you pick?  Well “Ducky’s” circle of influence included all of these exceptional men, plus many, many more.

A CENTURY PAST

“Ducky” first played for Tiger Head Coach Dave Stewart.  Under his leadership, the 1923 Tigers were looking toward another championship season, with a line-up that included Bill Edwards, Paul Brown, Don Fletcher, Vince Define, Bob Pflug, Jimmy Price and Robert Boerner, to name a few.  “Ducky” would line up as a plunging fullback, while playing linebacker on defense.

Massillon won their first two games before traveling, for the first time out of state, to Harrisburg Tech, PA.  It was there that the Tigers suffered their first defeat in two seasons, being shut out 26-0. It was discovered years later that Harrisburg Tech was also a night school and anyone who attended classes, regardless of age, was eligible to play varsity football. So it turned out that the Massillon teenagers had lost to a team comprised of players in their 20s and possibly their 30s.

The next week was also a loss to a strong Youngstown South team, 19-6. Was the loss because of the physical stress from traveling out of state the week before to play against an adult team?  Or was it just too much Wes Fesler, a three sport athlete and Ohio State Varsity O HOF charter inductee, 1930 Big Ten MVP, 3-time consensus 1st-Team College Football All-American, and College Football HOFer?

The Tigers regrouped and won their next five games and took a 7-2 record into the annual McKinley fray. Reporting during “game” week The Evening Independent wrote: “The athletes whom Canton fears most are Vincent Define, the Navarre speed merchant, and “Ducky” Schrader, the Canal Fulton line cracker.” The Tigers wouldn’t disappoint.

Massillon defeated McKinley, 9-0, that day and received the Canton University Club trophy emblematic of Stark County scholastic grid supremacy. Finishing the season strong, the 8-2 Tigers had shut out half of their opponents and “Ducky” ended the year with the second most rushing touchdowns. Loaded with athletes, Massillon boasted seven first team All-County players.

This December 3, 1923 Evening Independent excerpt is regarding the All-County selections:

“Johnson at fullback, also seems to be a selection made more to give Canton representation in the backfield than anything else. The colored athlete may have been Canton’s best ground gainer but he could not advance the ball with the same degree of power that Schrader did for Massillon. Schrader is relegated to the second team by the Canton writer but his place seems to be on the first team. A plunger of Schrader’s type furnishes the first eleven with more driving power than it would have with Johnson in the fullback position.” (2)

With that said, is Schrader “Ducky’s” last name?  Schrader is how it appeared in newspaper articles, stat sheets and team photos. But in the 1924 Massillon year book it was properly spelled Schroeder. There seemed to be a debate on how to properly pronounce his last name. It turns out that the “roe” in German is pronounced like an “a”. With the mystery solved, the correction was made after the football season.

1923 Massillon Varsity Football Team (Schroeder is the 13th player from the left)

SEMI-PRO DAY

Still enjoying the thrill of victory the day after beating McKinley, “Ducky” joined the Canal Fulton Triangles Semi-Pro football team.  Named as coach, “Ducky” can be seen in street clothes in the 1923 team photo below (taken at Akron’s Buchtel Field) along with Don Fletcher, his Massillon and Canal Fulton High School teammate.   The Triangles competed in a welterweight league that included the Massillon Maroons.  Remember, these times were at the very beginning of the newly formed NFL, with the Akron Pros being crowned the first NFL champions in 1920. However, it was the same stage as the Pro Massillon Tigers who dominated a decade earlier, with six championships in six years, followed by the Canton Pro Bulldogs, champions in 1922 and 1923.

In the local newspaper the Triangles were given equal billing to the Massillon-McKinley game.  In one of the tougher contests, the Triangles were up against a very strong South Akron Awnings team and expected a very hard hitting game.  On Sunday November 25, 1923, the Triangles lost 34-0.  The following day, both the Triangles-South Akron Awnings (aka Allen Billiards) game story and the Massillon-McKinley game story appeared side by side in The Evening Independent.

So how good was the South Akron Awnings football team?  “For 14 exciting seasons they played … hastening the demise of the 1920 professional championship Akron Pros, matching skill with even the Ironton Tanks and Portsmouth Spartans and gaining enduring fame in New York, Pennsylvania and Michigan as well as their home state.” (3)

1923 Canal Fulton Triangles / Merchants Football Team (Schroeder is on the left of the second row) (*)

KING OF KINGS

The following year “Ducky”, along with teammate Don Fletcher, moved to Bristol, Tennessee, to enroll in and play football for King College (photo at right). As a freshman “Ducky” was the No. 2 fullback.  Wherein the previous year, 1923, the King football team laid claim (albeit self-proclaimed) to a world scoring record, having tallied 507 points in a 9-game season. They also established a two-year National Collegiate scoring record with 1,005 points, while giving up only 61. They compiled a record of 14-2-1 in 17 games over two seasons, outscoring the opposition 59-4 on average.  The high point came during an October 21, 1922, game vs. Lenoir College of Hickory N.C. during which the King Tornados won 206-0.

So why did “Ducky” and Don go to King College? Was it because King College was a scoring machine? Or, could it be that there was a connection with the Canal Fulton Triangles? The following excerpt is from the November 2, 1924, Sunday Repository regarding the upcoming Hire-A-Fords Semi-Pro football game with the Canal Fulton Triangles:

“Several members of the Triangles formerly played with the King College team of Tennessee, which lately has become one of the strongest teams of the South. Van Norman, the Triangle coach, formerly tutored King College Teams.” (4)

“Ducky” would end up leaving after just one season.  After playing on their fourth team together, (Canal Fulton H. S., Massillon Tigers, Canal Fulton Triangles and King College) Don Fetcher would eventually move on to Carnegie Tech and then coach championship high school football for 22 years. Don was inducted into the Pittsburgh Football Hall of Fame as only the second high school coach to ever be accorded that honor.

1924 King College Football Team (Schroeder is pictured in the first row, second from the left; Don Fletcher is immediately behind)

HIGHER EDUCATION

Somehow ‘Ducky”, after King College, got in four years of education at Wittenberg Lutheran College where he was reunited with former Massillon teammate Bill Edwards. Both “Ducky” and Edwards would play for Wittenberg and eventually coach there. “Ducky” remembers, “I chose Wittenberg one night when a man from the college came to the ‘Y’ (YMCA) in Massillon. There were seven of us there, and all seven went to Wittenberg.” Could it be his decision to go to Wittenberg was made easier since his mother was such a strong Lutheran, while King College was Presbyterian?

At Wittenberg “Ducky” played football in 1926-28 for HOF football coach Ernie Godfrey, who then moved on to Ohio State to become a member of their coaching staff for 32 years. Interestingly, the Fighting Lutherans battled Ohio State, although unsuccessfully, for three years prior to his departure.  As a 3-time All-Buckeye Conference and All-Ohio fullback in 1927 and 1928, “Ducky” may have broken the national rushing attempts record in 1927 against Ohio University when he carried the ball 44 times for 176 yards. This mark is still stands as the current Wittenberg record. Equally impressive is the fact that “Ducky” never came out of the game, playing linebacker the entire time, a true ‘iron man’ performance. Also in 1927, “Ducky’s” last-second touchdown against Cincinnati gave Wittenberg a 6-0 victory, winning the Buckeye Conference Title. Then in 1928, Wittenberg beat Ohio Wesleyan, who that season had defeated both Syracuse and Michigan.  That year they were the Buckeye Conference Co-Champions. Considering “Ducky” was also a 3-year standout pitcher for the Fighting Lutherans’ baseball team, he was recognized on Wittenberg’s All Time players list as Honorable Mention for the 1920s

Coach Godfry was one of the first to put on summer clinics. Taking advantage of this opportunity, “Ducky” attended three straight years and as luck would have it Knute Rockne was there one of those years.  In “Ducky’s” opinion Rockne was “The Greatest Speaker”. One of “Ducky’s” all time thrills came when he asked Rockne to demonstrate a blocking technique.

“In 1928 I demonstrated for Coach Knute Rockne,” “Ducky” said. “Coach Rockne and I were walking off the field. I’ll never forget. I said, ‘Coach, would you show me that block again that you were showing out on the field?’ He said ‘Sure”. So in the heat of the day, everybody had gone, he stayed out there with me for fifteen minutes and showed me several different blocks that he was using. Then he said, ‘By the way, where are you from?’ I said, ‘Massillon, Ohio, have you heard of it?’ He looked at me and said’, You know I have.’ Because he used to play with the old Massillon Pro Tigers.

“Knute Rockne was the number one public speaker I’ve ever heard. He was sort of a humble man.  When I asked him to show me those blocks, I was just a player at Wittenberg.  I was attracted by his humility.  When he got up to speak in the Wittenberg Chapel, the place was just jammed, and you could hear a pin drop. He had a way of saying words that was just magnetic.” (1b)

“Ducky” learned the fundamentals from some of the most famous men in football history including, at another summer clinic, discovering techniques from Jim Thorpe and Pop Warner.  Warner was one of the early coaching legends; a career that spanned 43 years, having won four national championships and coached Thorpe at Carlisle; and who invited Jim Thorpe to participate at this coaching clinic. “Ducky” remembered, “Pop Warner was a very fascinating person.  I watched Jim Thorpe giving exhibitions on punting, place kicking and drop kicking. I can look back and feel that I really got a good basic knowledge of football from famous men like that. “Ducky” passed his knowledge on to Massillon players.”(1c)

TRAVELIN’ MAN

Upon graduating in 1930 from Wittenberg College, where he majored in English and earned a Bachelor of Education Degree, “Ducky” got the bug and coached for a month at Waynesburg H.S. Following this short coaching stint he played some semi-pro ball with local teams then moved to Uniontown H.S. where he coached for three months. Subsequently, “Ducky” became Athletic Director and head coach for all sports at Miami Military Institute in Germantown, Ohio, from 1930-32.

Picked from a field of 30 applicants, Newcomerstown H. S. Superintendent Wayne Hayes (Woody’s father) hired “Ducky” in 1932 to be head coach of all sports along with teaching science class. It was there that “Ducky” hired Woody just out of high school for his first football coaching job as an assistant coach of the defense. “Ducky” said “I probably have known Woody longer than anyone in the coaching business.”

Unfortunately, 1932 was also a year of disappointment for “Ducky” because he wanted to be on Paul Brown’s coaching staff at Massillon.  Even though he was not chosen, they became lifelong friends and it has been said that Paul Brown’s best friend in Massillon was “Ducky”.

Disappointment turned to bliss in 1934 when “Ducky” married Gertrude Hammer of Canal Fulton, Ohio.  At the time, “Gert” was a secretary for the Republic Steel Corp. and would spend the next 63 years happily married to “Ducky”.

Time to move on, but before leaving Newcomerstown in 1935 several of his players wrote a touching note to “Ducky” praising the coach by saying, “… we admire you for showing no discrimination whatsoever, and we hope your future career of coaching will be onward and upward.”  The note ends with this poem:  “You cannot eat this farewell note. Nor sell it that is true. But please keep it in your collections. For we are thinking of you.” He was so very proud of this note, that “Ducky” did keep this with his collections, making copies years later and handing it out to anyone interested.

For the next two years “Ducky” was head coach for all sports at Logan H.S. before moving on to Salem H.S. to coach football and basketball from 1936 – 40. Interestingly at this time, Massillon great Chuck Mather was coaching at Leetonia H.S., which is only five miles away from Salem. This was an opportunity for the two coaches to get together and compare ‘grid’ notes if need be every few days. Shifting once again in 1941 and 1942 “Ducky” was assistant football and basketball coach for Mount Union before travelin’ back to Springfield where he took the head coaching job for football and basketball at his alma mater, Wittenberg, 1942 and 1943.

“Speaking of his 1-5-1 season as head coach of Wittenberg football team in 1942, “Ducky” explains, ‘We didn’t know who was going to be on the team one week to the next because it was World War II. Lou Ryman (former head basketball coach at Lehman High) was our halfback. When I went to his room, he had just received his notice to report for active duty. He was in tears because he knew he couldn’t play in the game that week against Denison. Four guys on our team paid the supreme sacrifice as they died in the service of their country.’ “Ducky” was granted a leave of absence at Wittenberg because of the war. During the war he trained Air Corp cadets.”(5)   In the 40’s “Ducky” had trained more than 700 Air Force cadets who would move on to become WWII pilots.

“’Ducky’ using his training as he wrote his thesis on the Army Air Corp Physical Training Program, obtaining his master’s degree in physical education from Ohio State University in 1944. He remained in Springfield as physical director of the YMCA in 1944-46 and (first) director of athletics, health and physical education for Springfield Public Schools in 1946-48”.(5a)

CITY OF CHAMPIONS

Throughout 18 years “Ducky” had bounced around coaching for nine different teams until 1948 when he was hired by Chuck Mather to coach at Massillon. Finally, he had found his home, coaching football and baseball, teaching high school and supervising the winter conditioning program.

For six years (1948-53) Coach Mather would lead the team with “Ducky” at his side coaching the ends. Mather’s teams compiled a 57-3 record, a 95% winning percentage, and outscored opponents by an average of 37-7.  In addition, Mather’s record six state championships tied Paul Brown’s mark. Known as the ‘Mechanical Coach’ for his use of innovative coaching aides, Mather also claimed three national championships. Against McKinley the Tigers won all six contests, by an average score of 32-5 and had finally in 1950 caught up with McKinley for total wins in the series. Several years ago Homer Floyd (Massillon great and civil rights hero) when speaking of coach “Ducky” recalled that he had “nothing but wonderful memories of the man.”

Regrettably, 1954 was another year of disappointment when Mather left to take the head coaching job at the University of Kansas and took his entire coaching staff with him. All but “Ducky”. There were over 100 applications to replace Mather, but “Ducky” again was overlooked.  Ultimately, Tom Harp was selected. As fortune would have it, someone had figured out that “Ducky” would be more valuable to Massillon as an assistant long term than as a head coach short term.  Ironically, after four years when the Kansas job did not pan out well, Coach Mather and his assistants were all out of a job.  Surviving the slaughter, “Ducky”, not one to hold a grudge, would later say that one of his prized possessions was his autographed copy of Chuck Mather’s book, ‘Winning High School Football”.

Following a Tiger program that had just won two straight national championships, six straight state championships and owned six straight wins over McKinley, Harp had his work cut out for him.  He ended up staying two years compiling a record of 17-2-1, an 89.5% winning percentage.  His team’s average score was 28-8 per game. He won the state championship his first year with a 9-1 record and extended the streak over McKinley, winning 26-6.  The following year he was second in the state with an 8-1-1.  And then he left.  But he was always thankful that “Ducky” was still around from Coach Mather’s staff.

One of many clinics and camps that “Ducky” attended can be seen in this 1955 photo of the speakers at the Wooster Coaches Clinic.  Notice Tom Harp in the back row behind “Ducky” and Lee Tressel (future college football HOF) from Mentor H.S. in the front row.

In the photo — 1st row, left to right: Cal Eckert (Beach City), Junie Ferrel (Barberton), Lee Tressel (Mentor); 2nd row: Jim Scullion (Lakewood), Wes Boals (Jeromeville), “Ducky” Schroeder (Massillon), Even Koons (Springfield); row 3: Charles Ogg (Johnsville), Bob Shaw Washington Court House, Tom Harp (Massillon).

Tressel would take over as head coach in ‘56 and would be at the helm for two years.  With a combined record of 16-3, an 84% winning percentage, his teams outscored the competition by a 24-8 margin. In his first year the Tigers finish 8^th in the state going 8-2 then improved the following year, beating McKinley 25-7, and finishing second in the state at 8-1. Jim Tressel (former Ohio State Head Coach) still remembers when his dad would take him over to “Ducky’s” home to discuss the week’s game strategy.

1948 Massillon Varsity Football Team (Schroeder is on the far right of the first row)

WINNER WINNER

In 1958, Massillon hired Leo Strang to be the next Tiger coach. “Leo Strang understood “Ducky’s” importance to the program even before he accepted the head job at Massillon. ‘I knew “Ducky’s reputation, and I knew I had to keep a coach at Massillon so I would be able to know what had gone on in certain situations and who the people were that were true boosters that I could go and ask for help in any way. It’s very difficult going into a new situation unless you have somebody you can rely on who knows the background and the history. “Ducky” was the best defensive end coach that I knew of anywhere…When I took the Kent State job I would have liked to have taken “Ducky” on, but it would have been totally unfair to Massillon…totally unfair to him…and I knew that Earle Bruce wanted to keep him.” (1d)

He gave “Ducky” the responsibility for coaching long side ends and long side tackles on offense and middle guard and linebackers on defense. Leo’s accomplishments are impressive: 54-8-1 record, an 84.7% winning percentage, while outscoring the opponents by a 31-7 average. Known nationally as a football trendsetter, Leo’s Tigers had six wins and no defeats against McKinley, outscoring the Pups by a margin of 26–8. From 1958-63 the Tigers were twice named national champions, three times state champions, once state runner-up and once 4^th in the State.  “Ducky” was quoted later saying “Leo was responsible for bringing back the unbalanced line after years of dormancy.”

BATTER UP

“Ducky” also coached the Tiger baseball team, for 16 years from 1948 to 1963. He had taken his teams to the regional finals five times, to the state finals in 1955 and to the state semi-finals in 1960. Some of the outstanding baseball team members that played for “Ducky” include:

• Dick Mrofka – 1955 All-Ohio pitcher-Chicago White Sox- 1997 Stark County Baseball HOF
• Jim Houston – Wall of Champions, Ohio State 2x MVP, College HOF, ‘64 NFL Champion
• Dave Canary – Wall of Champions, Pop Warner All-American, 4 time Emmy Winner
• Mike Hershberger – Wall of Champions, All Ohio Pitcher & Outfielder, 10 years in the Big Leagues
• Joe Sparma –  Wall of Champions, Ohio State Football National Champions 1961, Detroit Tigers 1968 World Series Champion, Stark County Baseball HOF 1978, Stark County Football HOF 2011
• Tom Moser – Cleveland Indians Minor league 4 years
• Bob Khoenle – 1950 Tiger National Championship team – played for Purdue
• Bill Stoner – 1950 Tiger National Championship team- coached for Waynesdale
• Ray Flickinger – Cleveland Indians minor league
• Dick Barcus –  played for Miami
• Clyde Slicker –  played for Oberlin

The current Massillon baseball field is named in honor of “Ducky”: Carl “Ducky” Schroeder Field – Home of Massillon Tiger Baseball.” On hand for the official dedication were Mike Hershberger and Leo Strang.

NEVER SAY NEVER

“In early 1964, I got a call from the Massillon school superintendent asking if I would be interested in discussing the head football coaching job at Massillon,” said Earle Bruce. “I really wasn’t interested because things were on a roll in Sandusky. But I drove to Elyria and met with the superintendent privately. I thought I was going to be offered the job and I told him I wasn’t really interested.

“Shortly after I returned to Sandusky, my phone rang, and it was Woody. Carl “Ducky” Schroeder, the legendary Massillon assistant, had called Woody and told him to call me. ‘You can’t turn that Massillon job down!’ Woody said. ‘Earle you’d better look at that job a little harder. You can’t go wrong’…” (6)  And with that call, along with “Ducky’s” influence, Woody’s encouragement and Massillon’s passion, Earle Bruce became head coach of the Massillon Tiger football team.

Reverting back to the balanced line, “Ducky” would coach the ends and tackles. In ’64 the Tigers were 9-0 going into the McKinley game, while owning a 7-game winning streak in the series. But the Tigers were down 14–0 at half time.  Harold Steiner (Canal Fulton Triangles teammate and brother-in-law) recalls what “Ducky” heard Earle saying going into the locker room, “this is not the way I wanted to end my first season here,” To which “Ducky” replied, “you are in Massillon where the game isn’t over until it’s over.” Staging one of the greatest come from behind victories of any Massillon team, the Tigers won this televised game 20-14.

Years later, Dave Whitfield (1969 Ohio State captain) would say that “Ducky” was the best coach he ever had as far as teaching techniques. (7)

It was in 1964 where “Ducky” met his second favorite speaker, General Douglas Macarthur. “I met MacArthur when he was the speaker at the American Football Coaches Association convention at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City,” he said.  “When he heard I was from Massillon, Ohio, he said, Massillon, Ohio, that’s a great football town.” (5b)

In 1965, again undefeated 9-0 going into the McKinley game, the Tigers for a second time trailed 14-0 at half time, but this time on the road. In the locker room Earle says to “Ducky”, “Holy man, are we playing bad.” “Ducky” said ‘Coach, we’ve got another half’. Earle replied ’”Ducky”, you don’t come back two years in a row against a team like Canton McKinley’. “Ducky” said “Massillon can do it, coach.’ Earle said, ‘My God “Ducky”, the odds are tremendous this won’t happen.” (8) Executing another miraculous comeback, the Tigers went on to win 18-14 to give Coach Bruce back-to-back undefeated seasons, back-to-back state championships and back-to-back national championship runners-up. He left after two seasons , his teams finished with a 20-0 record, garnering a 1.000 winning percentage, while beating the opponents by a 27-6 margin, and remains the only undefeated and untied head coach in Massillon Tiger football history. Earle Bruce, in 2002, was inducted into the College Football HOF.

Under new coach Bob Seaman, who worked under Bruce from 1960-63, “Ducky” again was responsible for coaching the ends. But disaster struck.  After 34 consecutive winning seasons, Massillon’s streak came to an end in 1966. Two years later Seaman’s term ended with a 3-year record of 20-9-1, a 66.6% winning percentage, and scoring an average of 19-12 per game. With his only win over McKinley in 1967, the 9-1 Tigers finished 2^nd in the state.  It has been said of Seaman that he never grasped the importance of tradition at Massillon, which is paramount for best performance by allowing each player to know where he stands.

Moving forward, in 1969 the Washington High School Board of Education picked “Ducky” to head up a special advisory committee consisting of five men responsible for recommending a new head coach. Elwood Kammer, former championship Tiger head coach, Jack (Bunker) Hill, former Tiger football great, L.C. Young, assistant superintendent for business, and Russell Ramsey, principle at Gorrell and Horace Mann elementary schools joined “Ducky” on the committee.  The group recommended Bob Commings.

A BAKER’S DOZEN

Commings, with one of the most knowledgeable football minds in Ohio, brought his winning habits to Massillon.  Along with the veteran, “Ducky”, John Brideweser also joined the Tigers as an assistant coach.  Brideweser would leave the following year to take over the head position at Canton McKinley. The year 1970 was “Ducky’s” last year of football coaching at Massillon. Capitalizing on winning habits the Tigers went 10-0, were named state champions, were honored as 2^nd in the nation, and scored over 41 points while giving up less than 3 points per game. Closing out his storied career, the Tigers captured their 13th state championship when “Ducky” was coaching from the sidelines.  In the two years he spent under Commings the Tigers went 17-2-1, an 89.4% winning percentage, and averaged a score of 36-7.  His final year would also mark the first year of the live Obie Tiger era.

Coach Commings spoke on the enormous impact “Ducky” had on his career.  “Legendary “Ducky” Schroeder had a profound influence. All of us head coaches probably got more renown, but I think the one guy you most closely associate with Massillon would be “Ducky”. And it may be out of bounds to say – no, I don’t think it’s disrespectful to Paul Brown to say that at all. They both played here, but “Ducky” stayed so long.” (8a)

 “Ducky” Schroeder may be the most beloved coach in Massillon Tigers history.

1970 Massillon Varsity Football Team (Schroeder is in the last row, third from the left)

HOME SWEET HOME

After 23 seasons coaching the Tigers, of which 15 teams were undefeated on the ‘Sacred Turf’, “Ducky” retired from the Massillon School System. At his farewell goodbye, before the 1971 Cleveland Heights opener, he admitted that “he had found a little heaven in Massillon.” Gifted with the ability of turning the complex into the simple, this wise, kind, patient and gentle coach, with the heart of a champion, will always be the one-n-only, never to be repeated, never to be duplicated.

So why didn’t he leave for bigger and better opportunities? Well, he just liked living at home in Massillon. In addition to his busy schedule, he swam at the YMCA, regularly golfed at the Elms, for several summers managed the old Meadows golf range on Lincoln Way and coached local American Legion junior baseball teams. Living, working and being involved in community functions are what he loved while at home in Massillon.

Remember when Rockne asked where he was from? Should Canal Fulton have been the correct answer? After all his family was from Canal Fulton, he grew up in Canal Fulton, he played sports for Canal Fulton H.S., excluding his senior year at Massillon, his best friend and long-standing teammate was from Canal Fulton and he was on the Canal Fulton Triangles Semi-Pro Football Team. Yet, when Rockne asked where he was from, “Ducky” answered Massillon. Could it be this was a foreshadowing of his ultimate destiny?

DO THE MATH

Winding up his career at Massillon as player and coach, “Ducky”, finished with a record of 209-29-4, an 87.8% winning percentage, while averaging over 30 points for the Tigers and giving up less than 8 points per game for the opponents. While coaching at Massillon, the Tigers won five national championships, coming in second three times; the Tigers won 13 state championships, coming in second four times; averaged a state title better than one every other year. For his 23 years of coaching, the Tigers finished first or second in the State 17 times, equating to 74% of the Massillon Tiger football teams during the “Ducky” era.  These numbers are unmatched by any Tiger coach in Massillon Tiger football history.

Against McKinley as a player and coach the Tigers won 80% of their games, 19 victories vs. only 5 defeats, and enjoyed a 9-game winning streak over McKinley from 1957–65.  In the 24 years of battle Tiger teams were never shut out while the Pups were held scoreless seven times and were held under double digits an additional six times. Points scored over the 24 games on average were over 22 for the Tigers while giving up just over 10 per game for McKinley.

Amazingly at Massillon, “Ducky” played with, played for, coached with or coached for eight different Massillon Tiger football head coaches who won state championships: Paul Brown, Dave Stewart, Elwood Kammer, Chuck Mather, Tom Harp, Leo Strang, Earle Bruce and Bob Commings. So how excellent and how important was “Ducky’s” influence? Simply put, consider this: in his first year of coaching, the 1948 Tigers were state champions and in his last year of coaching, the 1970 Tigers were state champions. Sadly, the Tigers have not won a state championship since, spanning over half a century. Is it fair to argue that “Ducky” is the greatest Massillon Tiger assistant football coach of all time? I submit yes, by far; nobody close.

Having the eye of the Tiger, with the heart of a Champion, “Ducky” knew what it meant to be a Massillon Tiger and made sure his stalwarts played like Tigers.

MR. FOOTBALL

Outside of his coaching duties “Ducky” was always very active. In the early 1940’s “Ducky” was the driving force in establishing the Ohio Football Coaches Association. Following, in the mid 1940’s he was the brains behind organizing Ohio’s North-South All-Star football game.  For 30 years “Ducky” served as Secretary-Treasurer of the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association. “Gert”, while employed in the office of L. J. Smith-Superintendent of Massillon Public Schools, did a lot of her husband’s paperwork, so much so that The Coaches Association jokingly referred to her as secretary and “Ducky” as her assistant.

For 25 years from 1955-80 “Ducky” was the Mid-American representative of the Rae Crowther Blocking Sled Company of Philadelphia, selling 2-man and 7-man blocking sleds for football practices. “Ducky” was a 6-year member of the National Federation Rules Committee for High School Football, including being involved in establishing high school overtime rules, opening the door to the play-offs. Furthermore, he spent five years as the director of the Big 33 Football Game played in Hersey, PA, which pitted the best of Ohio against the best of Pennsylvania.

“Ducky” was always on the go, volunteering and organizing so many football camps, participating with so many committees and speaking at so many banquets and engagements. A good example is ten years after he retired, “Ducky” was asked to emcee the 1981 North South All-Star Banquet where he introduced guest speaker Woody Hayes, his longtime friend and colleague. What can be said of “Ducky’s network of players, coaches and administrators from the high school, college and professional ranks, which most certainly is well into the thousands of people?  It is not surprising that he was nationally known as “Mr. Football” in Ohio.

HOF ZONE

Being a regular attendee at the Pro Football HOF luncheons, “Ducky” was appointed President of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Club in 1976.  Throughout the years “Ducky” would invite VIPs to the event. For example, Mike Hersberger of the Chicago White Sox was a guest in 1963 while in 1979 Earle Bruce, Nick Vrotsos and “Ducky” were reunited and shared some laughs at the luncheon. On another occasion, “Ducky” was joined by former Tiger greats Tommy James (National Champion at all levels High School Massillon, College Ohio State and Pro Cleveland Browns) and his brother Don James (College Football HOF and National championship coach).

Speaking of the Hall of Fame, “Ducky” recalled that he took the time to write down a few of the outstanding collegiate and professional athletes that participated in the North-South All-Star game.  Some even returned to play in the NFL HOF Game. Telling one of his countless stories, “Ducky” goes on about pro HOF quarterback Roger Staubach of the Dallas Cowboys who played in the All-Star game, but not as quarterback. He was listed as a “defensive back’ in the 1960 program.  When “Ducky” mentioned this to HOF Cowboys coach Tom Landry he sarcastically questioned “Is that right? Then I’ll have to ask Roger why the heck he isn’t a better tackler?”

Among the host of outstanding all-stars, including a plethora of Massillon Tigers, and the likes of Joe Nuxhall Cincinnati Reds HOF and Bo Shembeckler College Football HOF, the following is a partial list of professional football players “Ducky” remembers meeting with at the Ohio North South All-Star game:

• Len Dawson NFL HOF, Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl Champion and MVP
• Paul Warfield NFL HOF, Miami Dolphins 2x Super Bowl Champion, Ohio State 2xHOF & National Champion
• Jim Marshall Ohio State HOF & National Champion, Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor
• Allen Page NFL HOF Minnesota Vikings (Ring of Honor), College Football HOF, Notre Dame HOF, Presidential Medal of Freedom
• Jim Houston College Football HOF, Ohio State HOF & National Champions, Cleveland Browns NFL Champions
• Dick Schafrath Ohio State HOF & National Champion, Cleveland Browns NFL Champions, Ohio State Senator
• Tom Matte Ohio State HOF, Baltimore Colts Super Bowl Champion
• Jim Tyrer Kansas City Chiefs HOF & Super Bowl Champion
• Bob Ferguson College Football HOF, Ohio State HOF, Pittsburg Steelers
• Jim Lynch College Football HOF, Notre Dame HOF, Kansas City Chiefs HOF & Super Bowl Champion
• Dave Foley Ohio State 2xHOF & National Champion, NY Jets and Buffalo Bills
• Bob Babich College Football HOF, Miami of Ohio HOF, San Diego Chargers and Cleveland Browns
• Ross Browner College Football HOF, Notre Dame HOF, Cincinnati Bengals
• George Izo NFL record holder quarterback, Cardinals, Redskins, Lions, Steelers
• George Sefcik NFL coached in 2 Super Bowls, coached for 7 NFL teams and 2 college teams

WHAT’S YOUR SECRET

What was his secret??  “Ducky” reflected on a good family life. “I consider myself lucky to have such a fine mother. Mothers you know have a lot of influence on our lives.” Loving immigrant parents, Christian values, strong work ethic, an appetite for education, the devotion to teach and a passion to succeed.  These are the intangibles that defined his life. He was blessed by being at the right place at the right time.

Early on “Ducky” was described by his fellow coaches as “a genial guy most of the week, but a bloodthirsty character during the game.” John McVay (All-Ohio and 5-time Super Bowl champion) recently recalled, “He was a wonderful guy to everybody. He coached like he was your uncle or your big brother.”

Knowing so many championship caliber and HOF players and coaches, surrounded by so many great football minds throughout his lifetime, who knows how many people were impacted by “Ducky’s” extensive circle of influence.

ON A ROLL

Spotlighting Carl “Ducky” Schroeder (1905-1997), the Massillon Museum featured a month long exhibit in 2015 to honor this revered longtime Massillon Tiger coach.

Additionally “Ducky” was honored by the following:

• The National Federation of High Schools.
• The National High School Football Coaches Association, along with his wife “Gert”.
• Elected President of the Pro Football HOF Club 1976
• The establishment of the Carl F. “Ducky” Schroeder scholarship and outstanding senior offensive lineman award to be presented at the annual Tiger football awards banquet.
• Wittenberg’s Varsity “W”.
• The Massillonian yearbook was dedicated to “Ducky” in 1956.
• The Massillon Washington High School Baseball Field named Carl “Ducky” Schroeder Field in 1992
• “Ducky” and “Gert” became the only husband wife combination to be inducted into the Ohio High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame.
• The Ohio All-Star Football Classic in its 53^rd year, played Saturday, June 27, 1998 at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium Massillon, Ohio Honoring Carl “Ducky” Schroeder.

The Ohio High School Football Coaches Association paid tribute to “Ducky”:

“The Ohio High School Football Coaches Association and Carl “Ducky” Schroeder may be combined into one because “Ducky” was the driving force behind the organization.  “Ducky” was the main man who worked with other coaches in the early 1940’s to form and mold the Coaches Association.

“Ducky” served as secretary-treasurer for thirty years and his mind absorbed the history of Ohio high school football. He shared that knowledge with the entire nation.

He was recognized all over the United States as Mr. Football in Ohio. “Ducky” was the brains behind the development of Ohio’s North-South game that has been a star attraction in Ohio for 53 years.

“Ducky” and his wife “Gert”, were friends to every coach in Ohio and they never forgot a face.  Ohio high school football and the Ohio High School Football Coaches association are so rich from the guidance of “Ducky” Schroeder.  “Ducky” was a man loved by all.  Somewhere “Ducky” is looking down on this game tonight with a grin and a chuckle, knowing with pride that his creation lives on.

“Ducky”, the Ohio High School Football Coaches association thanks you for your guidance, help and friendship.  We want everyone to know that we miss this wonderful man and if there is football in heaven, “Ducky” is calling the plays.”

“Without a doubt, “Ducky” was the greatest human being I’ve ever known… He probably did more for high school football than any other individual I know” — Nick Vrotsos… long time Tiger coach.

HITTING THE HALL

“Ducky” and or “Gert” have been inducted into the following Hall of Fames:

• Ohio High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame “Ducky” 1972
• Ohio High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame “Gert” 1977
• Wittenberg Hall of Honor 1986
• Stark County High School Football Hall of Fame Jim Craig Award 2014
• Massillon Washington High School Tiger Football Hall of Fame “Ducky” and “Gert” 2015
• Massillon Washington High School Wall of Champions 2015

Massillon Washington High School displays a Hall of Fame for football head coaches who have won a state championship. If an exception were to be made to this class of hall of famers, no one is more deserving than Carl F. “Ducky” Schroeder.

Below, from left to right: Massillon Wall of Champions plaque, Tiger Football Hall of Fame plaque, Wittenburg Hall of Honor plaque, 2015 Massillon game program.

R.I.P.

Massillon-McKinley game #105, November 1^st 1997, at 92 years young “Ducky” passed away.

Over his lifetime, “Ducky” was involved with football notwithstanding longer than he wasn’t.

United States Representative Ralph Regula of Navarre paid tribute to “Ducky” the week of his death on the floor of the House of Representatives.

From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office (www.gpo.gov)

Congressional Record, Volume 143 Issue 156 (Saturday, November 8, 1997)

(Extensions of Remarks) (Page E2254)

TRIBUTE TO NOTED MASSILLON BASEBALL AND FOOTBALL COACH

___________________

HON. RALPH REGULA

of Ohio

in the house of representatives

Friday,  November  7,  1997

Mr. REGULA.  Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to a special person, Carl Frederick  (Ducky)  Schroeder who died on November 1, 1997 after a brief illness.  He was born on March 25, 1905 in Canal Fulton to Elizabeth nee Ruehling and Frederick Schroeder.  He lived in the Massillon area most of his life.  It was said that as a young boy,  he spent much of his time swimming in the Ohio Canal and the Tuscarawas River, and that he used to  “walk like a duck on land”  hence the nickname  “Ducky”.

Ducky began his athletic career in Canal Fulton and Massillon where he was a standout in baseball and football.  Upon graduation, Ducky played football at Kings College in Tennessee but subsequently transferred to Wittenberg University where he was a standout pitcher for three years. He also was a football star and still holds the record for most carries in one game – 44 times for 176 yards while also playing linebacker on defense. After graduation Ducky went on to obtain a Master’s Degree in Physical Education from Ohio State University.

Starting in 1930 Ducky embarked on a long illustrious career of public service as a teacher and coach. For example, up until he began his career at Washington High School, Ducky was head football and basketball coach at the Ohio Military Institute, Newcomerstown, Logan, and Salem High School and was Athletic Director for both the Springfield YMCA and High School.

On the collegiate and military level Ducky was assistant football and basketball coach at Mount Union College and was head football and basketball coach at Wittenberg University. For the WWII war effort, Ducky trained more than 700 Air Force cadets who later went on to become pilots.

However, it was his career in public service at Massillon for which he will be most remembered. In 1948, Ducky returned to Massillon High School where he taught and coached until his retirement in 1971. As head coach of the baseball team, he took the team to the state finals in 1955 and the state semifinals in 1960. During his 23 years as assistant football coach, the Tigers won 13 state championships and it was Ducky’s job to supervise the winter conditioning program. He also coached several professional baseball and football players.

Ducky selflessly gave of his free time to promote sports. He was on the Big 33 Committee which led to five Ohio-Pennsylvania all-star games. He was secretary/treasurer of the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association and was inducted into the Ohio High school Coaches Hall of Fame. Ducky was past president of the Professional Football Hall of Fame Club in Canton. He also served as sales representative for the Rae Crowther Blocking Sled Company. In recognition for all his service to Massillon Athletics, he had one of the best high school baseball facilities dedicated to him – The Carl “Ducky” Schroeder Field.

In 1935, a group of athletics at Newcomerstown High School wrote Ducky upon his leaving that school. Their letter reads as follows:

Dear Coach:

On behalf of the colored boys of Newcomerstown High School, permit me to bid you a fond adieu. We regretfully say that you must leave us, because we consider you equal to or better than any coach who had been or shall be here. We admire you for showing no discrimination whatsoever, and we hope your future career of coaching will be onward and upward. Though our conduct at times was not commendable, we feel that your instructions were for the best. Though we have nothing to offer you as a remembrance of us, we hope you will sometimes think of us. The colored boys of NHS bid you farewell. Signed  Matthew Scott,  Booker Russell,  Sidney Jones,  Buster Cohen,  Ed McCall,  “Fat” Jones,  Killie Sterns,  Osie Dansby.

Ducky is survived by his wife of 63 years, Gertrude, his sister Helen Ellis, and numerous nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews. He was a longstanding member of St. John’s Lutheran Church of Canal Fulton.

____________________________

Written by Mike Riordan

I will always be a Tiger mostly in part because of my   ”Aunt Gert” and my “Uncle Ducky”.

Special Thanks to:

Chris Spielman – Detroit Lions HOF Ring of Honor “Pride of the Lions”, College Football HOF, Ohio State HOF, Massillon Tigers Football HOF and Wall of Champions

Margaret Gramlich – Executive Assistant to Ownership and President / CEO of Detroit Lions

Mary Ann King – For her personal contributions to this article

Bailey Yoder – Curator of Football Heritage, Massillon Museum

Gary Vogt – Massillon Tigers Football Historian

Don Engelhardt – Massillon Tiger Football Museum and massillontigers.com Web Site Programmer

Massillon Tiger Football Booster Club and the Massillon Museum

The Massillon Independent

The Canton Repository

References:

• (1)(1a)(1b)(1c)(1d) From A Century of Heroes by Scott H. Shook
• (2) The Evening Independent 12/3/23 pg8 Massillon Draws Seven On All-County Eleven
• (3) The Suncheaters The Story of the South Akron Awnings 1923-1941 forward
• (4) The Sunday Repository 11/2/24 Fords Face Hard Encounter Today At Canal Fulton
• (5)(5a)(5b) The Repository ‘Ducky’ is Super Sport of Stark County by Art Schrock 5/3/81
• (6) Earle A Coach’s Life by Earle Bruce  Orange Frazer Press, Inc.
• (7) The Massillon Tiger Story The First Hundred Years by John E. (Jack) White Jr.
• (8)(8a) Massillon Memories by Scott H. Shook
• (*) The 1923 Canal Fulton Triangles Team Photo is archived in the Pro Football HOF Canton, OH, the Paul Brown Massillon Museum, Massillon, OH, the McKinley Presidential Library & Museum Canton, OH, and on display at the Canal Fulton, OH – Heritage Society History Museum.

Greatest Massillon Player Performance Series, Part 4 – Running…

This is the fourth part in a series on the greatest performances by Massillon players, as selected by the Booster Club Football Museum staff.   Three distinct eras are considered in order to account for the variations in offensive styles.  Part 4 focuses on the running backs during the eras prior to the spread offense (1959-1997), combining both the era of the multiple offenses and era of run domination.

In determining the best running back performance and similar to the ranking of quarterbacks, it’s not necessarily about the player who had the best stats.  The primary factor is the caliber of the opponent and the resulting impact of the performance.  The criteria then are follows:

• The opponent must have had a top-level record and presented a significant challenge to the offense.
• The running back must have had better than average rushing statistics.
• The running back must have contributed a significant percentage of the total offense.
• If required, the running back must have been a significant factor in pulling out the win at the end.

No. 1 – Travis McGuire (1991)

• Opponent – Canton McKinley (6-3); rivalry game
• RB numbers – 36 carries for 302 yards and 5 touchdowns; 8.4 yards/att.; 75% of the offense
• Final score – 42 – 13
• The story – McGuire’s 302 yards surpassed a record that had stood for 37 years, long since Homer Floyd amassed 263 yards against this same opponent in 1954.  And it’s a feat that’s still talked about to this day.  It was well-known at the time that this future Ohio State Buckeye was one of two stellar running backs on Coach Lee Owens’ team, the other being Falando Ashcraft.  But Ashcraft was limited in this one due to a sprained ankle and only had three carries.  That left it up to McGuire to shoulder the load.  And he did just that, through sure exhaustion, leaving it all on the field.  He ended up toting the ball on 36 of his team’s 60 attempts, going through and around the defense, spinning his way to five touchdowns.  Owens also a times employed an unbalanced line to give McGuire plenty of blockers.

McGuire’s initial score came in the first period from 14 yards out, which broke a 7-7 tie.  On Massillon’s next possession it was an 11-yard TD run in the second quarter.  Only, McKinley was still in the game at halftime, trailing just 21-13.  But the second half was all Tigers.  In the third, McGuire opened the margin to 22 points on runs of 6 and 1 yards.  Then he iced it in the fourth with a 79-yard sprint to the end zone, while glancing back often to assure that he couldn’t be caught.

“He’s a fine young man,” remarked Owens following the game when asked about McGuire’s 302 yards.  “He said, ‘just give me the ball, coach, and we will win the game.’  And the offensive line played hard all game.” – WHBC television broadcast

“You can’t really explain it,” said McGuire after the game about the 302 yards and five touchdowns.  “When I get home and go to sleep, it will probably hit me.  We weren’t sure Falando would be able to play this week.  So I took it upon myself to work harder, because I knew I would need to carry the load on offense.  And I just made the best of it when I had the chance.” – WHBC television broadcast

Other Great McGuire Performances

•  1991 – Akron Ellet (9-1); playoff first round – Stats: 19 carries for 198 yards and 2 touchdowns 10.4 yards/att. – Score 28-6
• 1991 – Toledo St. John’s (8-2); playoff regional finals – Stats: 29 carries for 229 yards and 3 touchdowns; 7.9 yards/att. – Score 42-21

No. 2 – Tom Hannon (1972)

• Opponent – Upper Arlington (1-0-1); finished the season 6-2-2
• RB numbers – 23 carries for 212 yards and 0 touchdowns; 8.8 yards/att.; 65% of the offense
• Final score – 14-0
• The story – For the previous five years Upper Arlington had ranked right up there with the best teams in the state, taking home the state title three times (1967, 68 and 69), against one title for Massillon (1970) and one for Warren Harding (1971).  The Golden Bears also had a pair of wins over the Tigers (1966 and 67).  But now was time for the Tigers to right the ship against UA.  Playing in front of a sold out crowd at Marv Morehead Stadium, all eyes were on Massillon and speedy running back future pro Tom Hannon.

The defense did its job all night, shutting out Upper Arlington and holding them to 130 yards of offense, while Hannon did the rest.  Although he didn’t score in the game, he was instrumental in helping his team to a pair of second half touchdowns for the win.  The first was set up with Hannon’s 19-yard draw play to the one.  On the second TD drive, he contributed a 12-yard run.  Hannon would have put up a third Tiger score, one of 58 yards, but a cramp put him on the ground prematurely.

“Massillon is a great team,” said Golden Bears Head Coach Pete Corey. “They execute as well as any football team I have ever seen.  That Tom Hannon is one of the best runners we have ever faced.  He can seem to be running at top speed and then shift into high gear.  He’s a fine one.” – Check Hess of the Massillon Independent

No. 3 – Homer Floyd (1954)

• 

  Opponent – Canton McKinley (8-1); rivalry game

• RB numbers – 28 carries for 263 yards and 2 touchdowns; 9.4 yards/att.; 59% of the offense
• Final score – 26-6
• The story – Homer Floyd saw to it that that once-beaten McKinley would not get the better of his team in the annual rivalry game by setting a new single season rushing record and averaging a whopping 9.4 yards per carry.  Floyd rushed for 125 yards in the first half on 19 carries and then added another 138 yards in the second on just 9 carries.  His two touchdowns came in the second half, which gave Massillon an insurmountable 20-0 lead.  The first was on a 28-yard run and second, a 13-yard run.  He also had a long run of 55 yards, but he was stopped at the three yard line, just short of the end zone.

No. 4 – Art Hastings (1960)

• Opponent – Cleveland Benedictine (1-0); lost 7-0 in the Cleveland championship game; finished the season 8-3-1
• RB numbers – 8 carries for 177 yards and 3 touchdowns; 22.1 yards/att.; 57% of the offense
• Final score – 36-6
• The story – Hastings only carried the ball eight times in this game against Cleveland power Benedictine, but he made the most of them with three touchdowns and a massive yardage average.  His first TD came from ten yards out on Massillon’s initial possession and then he added two more scored in the second half, on runs of 69 and 49 yards.

Other Great Hastings Performances

•  1959 – Warren Harding (6-0); finished the season 9-1 – Stats: carries for 169 yards and 2 touchdowns; 9.4 yards/att. – Score 38-8
• 1960 – Canton McKinley (5-4); rivalry game – Stats: 14 carries for 213 yards and 4 touchdowns; 15.2 yards/att. – Score 42-0

 No. 5 – Mike Mauger (1970)

• Opponent – Cleveland Benedictine (1-0); finished the season 9-1
• RB numbers – 11 carries for 220 yards and 3 touchdowns; 20.0 yards/att.; 61% of the offense
• Final score – 32-7
• The story – Mauger scored three first-half touchdowns, on runs of 89, 3 and 70 yards, to open an 18-0 lead and the Tigers never looked back.  The first time he touched the ball he took a pitch out and rumbled 84 yards for a score.  But it was called back due to a penalty.  So the Tigers ran the same play on the next try and this time the TD counted.  Mauger added a fourth touchdown in the third quarter on an 80-yard run.

Other Great Mauger Performances

•  1970 – Niles McKinley (3-0); finished the season 7-2-1 – Stats: 14 carries for 138 yards and 0 touchdowns; 9.9 yards/att. – Score 22-3

No. 6  – Falando Ashcraft (1991)

• Opponent – Toledo St. John’s (8-2); playoff regional finals
• RB numbers – 18 carries for 165 yards and 3 touchdowns; 9.2 yards/att.; 35% of the offense
• Final score – 42-21
• The story – With the Tigers trailing 21-7 early in the third quarter, Ashcraft took it upon himself to score three of the five second-half touchdowns to turn the game around.  His 3-yard run in the third quarter closed the gap to 21-14 and then an 80-yard jaunt early in the fourth gave Massillon a 28-21 lead that they didn’t relinquish.  His final score came from two yards out.  Along the way, Ashcraft averaged a whopping 9.2 yards per carry.  Running mate Travis McGuire also contributed 229 yards and three touchdowns.

No. 7 – Charlie Brown (1961)

• Opponent – Cincinnati Roger Bacon (5-0); finished the season 4^th in the state with a 9-1 record
• RB numbers – 23 carries for 165 yards and 1 touchdown; 7.2 yards/att.; 44% of the offense
• Final score – 12-0
• The story – Roger Bacon tested the state title waters in 1960, but lost at Massillon, 8-0.  This second time around Bacon was the host and, with a much improved team, was ready to turn the tables.  Only, future pro Charlie Brown seemed to have gotten in the way.  Brown simply took over the game, putting up 165 of the Tigers’ 374 yards of offense against the much larger opponent.  On the first drive, which ended with a score by Fred Philpott, Brown carried the ball twelve times, including a 21-yarder to the red zone.  Then, he scored a touchdown on a 60-yard run in the third quarter that put the game away.

No. 8 – Lamonte Dixon (1989)

• Opponent – Walsh Jesuit (8-1); playoff first round
• RB numbers – 10 carries for 181 yards and 1 touchdowns; 18.1 yards/att.; 40% of the offense
• Final score – 42-24
• The Story – The situation was dire in this playoff contest.  Massillon’s game plan of throwing the ball was just not working and the Tigers were behind at the half, 24-6.  But in the second half they went mostly to the run, which opened the door for Dixon to have a stellar night.  Although he only scored one touchdown, a 6-yard run in the third quarter, he was instrumental in the comeback, averaging 18.1 yard per carry.  In addition, following an interception at the Massillon 11, Dixon on the very next play broke through a slew of would-be tacklers and sped 80 yards to the Walsh nine.  The Tigers then scored on the next play to give themselves a 2-score advantage into the fourth quarter.

No. 9 – Sam McDew (1979)

• Opponent – Cleveland Benedictine (4-0); finished the season 7-1-1
• RB numbers – 15 carries for 145 yards and 2 touchdowns; 9.7 yards/att.; 50% of the offense
• Final score – 38-6
• Story – Against the undefeated Bennies, McDew scored his first touchdown in the opening period on a 7-yard sweep to the left.  He followed that up with an 85-yard jaunt on a trap play up the middle for a second score.  With McDew’s 140 yards rushing on 14 carries and two touchdowns, coupled with a Jeff Fry field goal, Massillon was able to take a commanding 17-0 lead going into the locker room.  The game eventually turned into a rout.  It became Benedictine’s only loss of the season.

No. 10 – Bill Harmon (1975)

• Opponent – Cleveland Benedictine (3-1); finished the season 8-2
• RB numbers – 27 carries for 201 yards and 3 touchdowns; 7.4 yards/att.; 59% of the offense
• Final score – 36-8
• Story – As a 6’-1”, 237 lb. running back, Bill Harmon was load for any defense.  And for Benedictine it was no exception.  Harmon rushed for over 200 yards and scored three touchdowns in this one, which turned out to be the best performance of his career.  In the first half he tallied from nine yards out, but the Bennies answered and the halftime score was tied at eight apiece.  Two Harmon third quarter TDs, of 2 and 48 yards, opened up a 22-8 lead and the Tigers held the advantage the rest of the way.  Harmon also ran for two PATs.  “We tried a couple new plays tonight, to get Harmon wide,” Coach Shuff said.  “That sweep was one of them.”  Harmon’s brother, Keith, scored the final points on a pass from Dave Smith.

Honorable Mention

• 1952 – Lee Nussbaum – Canton McKinley (6-2-1); rivalry game – Stats: 21 carries for 180 yards and 2 touchdowns; 8.6 yards/att. – Score 41-8
• 1965 – Walt Lemon – Niles McKinley (4-0); finished the season 6-2-2 – Stats: 11 carries for 124 yards and 0 touchdowns; 11.3 yards/att. – Score 22-8
• 1971 – Willie Spencer, Sr. – Barberton (6-0); finished the season 7-1-1 – Stats: 12 carries for 124 yards and 2 touchdowns; 10.3 yards/att. – Score: 46-0
• 1982 – Jim Bushe – Canton GlenOak (6-1); finished the season 8-2 – Stats: 13 carries for 142 yards and 1 touchdown; 10.9 yards/att. – Score 42-14

Greatest Performance in a Loss

Tom Hannon (1972)

• Opponent – Cincinnati Princeton (9-0-1); playoff state semifinals
• RB numbers – 22 carries for 159 yards and 1 touchdown; 7.2 yards/att.; 53% of the offense
• Final score – 14-17
• Store – It was the first ever year of the playoffs and undefeated Massillon was facing Cincinnati Princeton at Ohio State Stadium.  On the second play of the game, Hannon took a pitch and broke loose on a 64-yard touchdown run, followed by 2-point conversion run.  Two subsequent drives fell short, but Tigers pushed one in late in the second quarter to lead 14-0.  But on the final play of the half, Princeton kicked a remarkable 47-yard field goal.  Unfortunately, that score turned the momentum in their favor, which they maintained throughout the second half, in spite of a gallant effort by the Massillon offense.  Ironically, the Tigers led in total yards, 299-247.

Greatest Massillon Player Performance Series, Part 3 – Spread…

This is the third part of a series on the greatest performances by Massillon players, as selected by the Booster Club Football Museum staff.   Three distinct eras are considered in order to account for the variations in offensive styles.  Part 3 focuses on the running backs during the era of the spread offense (1998-2021).

In determining the best running back performance and similar to the ranking of quarterbacks, it’s not necessarily about the player who had the best stats.  The primary factor is the caliber of the opponent and the resulting impact of the performance.  The criteria then are follows:

• The opponent must have had a top-level record and presented a significant challenge to the offense.
• The running back must have had better than average rushing statistics.
• The running back must have contributed a significant percentage of the total offense.
• If required, the running back must have been a significant factor in pulling out the win at the end.

THE ERA OF THE SPREAD OFFENSE (1999-2021)

Massillon began using the spread offense in 1998 when Rick Shepas became the head coach and it has been the offense of choice for all Massillon coaches since.  With anywhere between three and five wide receivers in the formation, the tendency has been to throw the ball around 40% of the time, more than during previous years.  Therefore, this presentation groups the running backs from this era.

What separates this time period from previous years is that when the spread offense became vogue the defenses changed their alignments to allow for coverage of additional wide receivers.  This was particularly the case with the alignment of the defensive line and linebackers, which transitioned from a traditional 5-2 or 4-4 to a 4-3, 3-4 or even a 3-5.  On the other side of the line, offenses ran fewer power sweeps due to less linemen, i.e., no tight ends, in favor of more buck sweeps, power, zone and quarterback read option.  But in spite of the QBs also throwing more passes, thereby reducing the impacts of many running back performances, there were still a sufficient number of candidates to make a good list.

No. 1 – Willtrell Hartson (2020)

• Opponent – Westerville South (7-0); Division 2 regional semifinals
• RB numbers – 27 carries for 324 yards and 3 touchdowns; 12.0 yards/att.; 71% of the offense
• Final score – 45-36
• The story – Hartson wasn’t the starting running back when the season began, but the sophomore found himself in that spot against Canton McKinley owing to Raekwon Venson’s injury.  Three weeks later he lit it up and set a new Massillon rushing record for total yards in a game.  The mark surpassed the previous record of 302 yards set by Travis McGuire in 1991.  Included in his night were touchdown runs of 54, 53 and 35 yards, with additional jaunts of 39, 25, 23, 17 and 15 yards.  He was simply unstoppable in this playoff game.

His three touchdowns spanned the second and third quarters and helped the Tigers erase a 9-7 deficit, ultimately taking a 42-9 lead into the fourth.  He might have called it a night at that point, but South had mounted a comeback in the final frame and Massillon’s first team needed to stay in to finish it off.  That, of course, didn’t hurt Hartson’s chances of setting the record.

“Where he really separates himself is once he gets to that third level,” Massillon coach Nate Moore said of Hartson, who has rushed for 773 yards on 68 carries over the last four games since replacing the injured Raekwon Venson. “How he’s able to both break tackles and accelerate and choose the correct angles and cuts to finish runs through that third level. That’s where he’s been outstanding.” – Chris Easterling, Massillon Independent

Other Great Hartson Performances

• 2020 – North Canton (6-2); playoffs second round – Stats: 13 carries for 196 yards and 4 touchdowns; 15.1 yards/att. – Score: 48-23

No. 2 – Jamir Thomas (2018)

• Opponent – Canton McKinley (8-1); rivalry game; finished the season 9-3
• RB numbers – 35 carries for 269 yards and 2 touchdowns; 7.7 yards/att.; 73% of the offense
• Final score – 24-17
• The story – Jamir Thomas was an iron man for the Tigers and over both his final two seasons and his career he had more carries than any other back in Massillon history.  The game against McKinley was no different and he rushed for a career-high (at that time) in this one.  After the Bulldogs took a 7-3 lead late in the first quarter, Thomas ripped off a 78-yard touchdown run, cutting back through the line and then out-racing the entire McKinley secondary to the end zone.  He would tally again in the third on a 16-yard run, but the score was still tied at 17 well into the fourth.  So, from their own 49, the Tigers went to work, eventually scoring on a Zion Phifer run on the 13th play of the drive.  Along the way, Jamir ran the ball six times and picked up 33 yards.  Following a McKinley punt, Massillon ran out the clock with Thomas gaining 26 yards off of eight carries.

“We came out here expecting to pound the ball,” Thomas said.  “I mean, they knew our plays.  They were calling out our plays from their sideline. So we really just had to execute.  That’s what we did.” – Josh Weir, Canton Repository

Other Great Thomas Performances

• 2017 – Ashland (9-2); Division 2 regional semifinals – Stats: 37 carries for 196 yards and 4 touchdowns; 5.3 yards/att – Score 18-7
• 2018 – Warren Harding (2-0); finished the season 8-3 – Stats: 29 carries for 262 yards and 2 touchdowns; 9.0 yards/att. – Score 51-21

No. 3 – Ryne Moore (2012)

• Opponent – Canton McKinley (8-2); Division 1 regional semifinals
• RB numbers – 37 carries for 227 yards and 2 touchdowns; 6.1 yards/att.; 55% of the offense
• Final score – 28-19
• The story – A second-round playoff game at Kent State University against the Bulldogs went the Tigers way, led by the powerful running of Ryne Moore.  Not to be overshadowed by the passing of quarterback Kyle Kempt, Moore partially stole the show with a career day performance.  He scored on touchdown runs of one and two yards.  But in between had eight runs of ten yards or more, including a long one of 64 in the fourth quarter that turned the field and sealed the game.  Ryne had an uncanny ability to, depending on the initial response of McKinley’s opposing linebacker, either run inside the tackle or cut to the outside in order to gain the maximum yardage.

No. 4 – JT Turner (2008)

• Opponent – JT Turner – Canton McKinley (6-3); finished the season 6-5
• RB numbers – 28 carries for 208 yards and 1 touchdown; 7.4 yards/att.; 62% of the offense
• Final score – 17-0
• The story – If there was ever a game against McKinley where one player literally took over, this was surely the one.  It was not the best of Massillon teams, but Turner saved his best game for this one.  His touchdown came in the fourth quarter, on a 26-yard run, that finished off a 12-play, 94-yard drive.  The drive was kick-started by Turner’s 30 yard run.  Then he added four additional runs totaling 16 yards before scoring the final TD.  Playing both ways throughout the game, he also recorded 6.5 tackle points and forced a fumble, which he recovered.

Other Great Turner Performances

• 2008 – Akron Garfield (3-1); finished the season 8-2 – Stats: 22 carries for 192 yards and 2 touchdowns; 8.7 yards/att. – Score: 34-0

No. 5 – Brian Gamble (2005)

• Opponent – Cincinnati Elder (1-0); finished the season 4-5
• RB numbers – 15 carries for 173 yards and 2 touchdowns; 11.5 yards/att.; 36% of the offense
• Final score – 35-31
• The story – The game was a classic played at Cincinnati Bengal’s Paul Brown Stadium against a powerhouse parochial school.  But that didn’t faze Massillon.  And it didn’t faze Gamble either as he led his team to a 35-14 advantage by early in the fourth quarter.  Included in that was a pair of third-quarter touchdown runs of 50 yards and 2 yards.  The Tigers then held Elder off sufficiently the rest of the way to grab the victory.  Gamble also led the team with 7.5 tackle points and intercepted a pass, which he returned for 37 yards.

“That was a great run,” Massillon Coach Tom Stacy said of his first touchdown.  “It was just a power off tackle play and Brian Gamble broke it.”  Gamble refused to take any credit for his heroics.  “It’s not me,” Gamble said. “Our line has been blocking excellent and we’ve got Lanale Robinson running the football, too.”  Now, Gamble says, people around Ohio are going to sit up and take notice of the Massillon Tigers once again.  — Joe Shaheen, Massillon Independent

Other Great Gamble Performances

• 2005 – North Canton (7-3); playoffs first round – Stats: 14 carries for 146 yards and 2 touchdowns rushing; 10.4 yards/att.; 1 TD receiving – Score: 45-14

No. 6 – Freddie Lenix Jr. (2021)

• Opponent – Canton McKinley (6-3); rivalry game; finished the season 8-5
• RB numbers – 16 carries for 179 yards and 2 touchdowns; 11.2 yards/att.; 45% of the offense
• Final score – 35-13
• The story – Massillon was searching for a running back after Willtrell Hartson went down with an injury and tried Lenix in Week 9.  After modest results in that one, Lenix turned on the jets a week later and was instrumental in routing McKinley.  In the first quarter he scored on a 49-yard run and then finished it off in the fourth with a 68-yard sprint to the end zone.

Other Great Lenix Performances

• 2021 – Westerville South (8-2); Division 2 playoffs; Stats: 22 carries for 226 yards and 2 touchdowns; 10.3 yards/att. – Score 50-19

No. 7 – Lyron Wilson (2013)

• Opponent – Steubenville (4-0); finished the season Division 4 state runner-up
• RB numbers – 24 carries for 234 yards and 3 touchdowns; 9.8 yards/att.; 74% of the offense
• Final score – 37-21
• The story – Playing on the road at Steubenville is always a challenge, especially when the Big Red is undefeated.  But Massillon was up to the task, led by the running of Lyron Wilson, who put up a monster night.  In the first quarter he scored from the four and then added another of 30 yards in the second.  Finally, with his team up 30-21 late in the fourth, he finished game off with a 14-yard touchdown run.

“It’s crazy; it’s a beautiful thing,” Massillon running back Lyron Wilson said. “We’re the first team to beat them in how long? … It was a great game for us.” – Chris Easterling, Massillon Independent

Other Great Wilson Performances

• 2013 – Canton McKinley (9-0); rivalry game – 26 carries for 184 yards and 0 touchdowns; 7.1 yards/att. – Score: 34-7

No. 8 – Terrence Keyes (2019)

• Opponent – Barberton (5-2); finished the season 7-3
• RB numbers – 30 carries for 255 yards and 5 touchdowns; 8.5 yards/att.; 62% of the offense
• Final score – 49-25
• The story – Keyes was the “the man” in this one, posting two Top-10 records, for total yards and touchdowns.  In front a capacity crowd at Magic Stadium, he scored three second-quarter touchdowns,  of 7, 8 and 1 yards, to give Massillon a 28-16 halftime lead.  In the third quarter he added another from one yard out and then finished it off in the final frame by rambling 62 yards to paydirt.

No. 9 – Zion Phifer (2017)

• Opponent – Bedford (4-0); finished the season 10-2
• RB numbers – 31 carries for 196 yards and 3 touchdowns; 6.3 yards/att.; 47% of the offense
• Final score – 56-46
• The story – The sophomore Phifer, who was subbing in and out for junior starter Jamir Thomas, came up big in this high-scoring affair.  Phifer scored touchdowns on runs of 17, 18 and 1 yards.

No. 10 – Perry James (2000)

• Opponent – Mansfield (3-0); finished the season 10-2
• RB numbers – 26 carries for 180 yards and 1 touchdown; avg. 6.9 yards/att.; 57% of the offense
• Final score – 27-7
• The story – James carried the load in this one, lugging the ball on 26 of the 29 rushing plays.  His longest run from scrimmage was 37 yards.  The touchdown came in the third quarter from one yard out and gave the Tigers a comfortable 21-7 lead.  On the final scoring drive of the night, James either carried the ball or caught a pass on eight of the first nine plays.  Quarterback Justin Zwick then finished it off with a 5-yard pass to Jeremiah Drobney.

GREATEST PERFORMANCE IN A LOSS

Devoe Torrence (2007)

• Opponent – Mentor (3-1); finished the season Division 1 state runner-up
• RB numbers – 36 carries for 283 yards and 4 touchdowns; 57% of the offense
• Final score – 52-56
• The story – The Tigers entered this one with a 2-2 record and were perceived to be no match for Mentor, which was coming off a blowout win over Cleveland St. Ignatius.  But someone forgot to tell Devoe Torrence.  Although Massillon lost this one, Torrence kept his team in the game throughout, scoring twice in the second quarter and once in the third to narrow the scoring gaps.  His fourth TD actually gave the Tigers a brief lead of 45-42.  But Mentor eventually tallied the winning points with just 24 seconds left.  Torrence’s 36 carries ranks 8^th all-time, his 283 yards ranks fourth and his four TDs ranks 10^th.

Greatest Massillon Player Performance Series, Part 2 – Quarterbacks…

This is the second part of a series on the greatest performances by Massillon players, as selected by the Booster Club Football Museum staff.   Three distinct eras are considered in order to account for the variations in offensive styles.  Part 2 focuses on the quarterbacks in he two eras before the advent of the spread offense.

In determining the best quarterback performance it’s not a matter of which player had the most yards or the most touchdown passes or the highest efficiency rating.  If you’re interesting in those numbers you can read about them in the Records section of this website.  Surely, the stats for a QB should be better than average.  But what’s missing in many of those records is the challenge presented by the caliber of the opponent.  This then is a key component.  Another factor is the degree to which the quarterback had influence in the outcome.  Was the running game shut down, forcing a move strictly to a passing attack?  Was the quarterback a major factor at the end in pulling out a win?  Here then are the criteria used in this analysis?

• The quarterback must have had better than average passing statistics.
• The opponent must have had a top-level record and presented a significant challenge to the offense, particularly coming from the secondary.
• The passing game must have contributed a major percentage of the total offense.
• If required, the quarterback must have been a significant factor in pulling out the win at the end.

Finally, let’s not forget the receivers who were on the other ends of these outstanding passing performances.

THE ERA OF THE MULTIPLE OFFENSES (1976-1998)

In this era the offenses were transitioning from a traditional run-oriented attack to one that integrated more of the passing game.  Massillon offenses, like Mike Currence’s “run-and-shoot” and Lee Owens “run-and-boot”, began to appear as the run-pass ratio decreased from 80% to 70%.  Therefore, quarterbacks in this era are grouped together.

No. 1 – Willie Spencer, Jr. (1994)

• Opponent – Canton McKinley (8-1); rivalry game
• QB numbers – 6 of 13 for 103 yards and 2 touchdowns; rushed 12 times for 94 yards and 1 touchdown; 57% of the offense
• Key receivers – None with more than two receptions
• Final score – 42-41 o.t.
• The story – Spencer was perhaps the most prolific and athletic quarterback in Massillon history.  And he showcased his abilities by gaining 197 yards while both running and passing the ball.  He also managed of the offense brilliantly in this win over favored McKinley.  Both teams scored twice in the first half, with Willie contributing a 3-yard TD run.  In the third he threw two touchdown passes, the first a 62-yard flea flicker to Victor Redrick and the second a 4-yarder to Vaughn Mohler to give the Tigers a 28-21 lead going into the fourth.

Back-and-forth the scoring went until at the end of regulation it was tied at 35.  McKinley tallied on its initial overtime possession, but failed on the extra point.  Now it was the Tigers’ turn.  On second down from the 20, Spencer headed around right end on an option play, faked a pitch, and then right before he got hit pitched the ball to Redick, who gathered the pigskin near the sideline and sped the remaining distance for the score.  Nick Pribich’s PAT kick ended the game with Massillon as the victor.

It was a tremendous finish to this 100^th game in the rivalry series.  And the Booster Club Football Museum had previously tagged it as Massillon’s greatest victory all-time in their storied 100+ year history.

No. 2 – Brent Offenbecher (1978)

• Opponent – Canton McKinley (7-1); rivalry game
• QB numbers – 10 of 13 for 176 yards and 2 touchdowns; 89% of the offense
• Key receivers – Curt Strawder (8), Ron Wright (3)
• Final score – 13-10
• The story – Through three quarters of football McKinley owned the action and kicked a 22-yard field goal to lead 10-0 early in the fourth.  But the last two Massillon drives were memorable.  Using a combination of wide receiver slants and down-and-outs, Offenbecher directed the offense to a score on each of the Tigers’ final two possessions.   The first started on the Massillon 43 and ended seven plays later when Offenbecher connected with Strawder on a 12-yard touchdown with 3:25 remaining in the game.  Following a pass interception at the Bulldog 31, Brent went to work again, completing three straight passes, with the third a 6-yard TD to Strawder.  A subsequent Tiger interception, their second of the game, then sealed the win.

Other Great Offenbecher Performances

• 1977 – Canton McKinley (9-0); rivalry game – Stats: 7 of 9 for 162 yards and 2 touchdowns – Score 21-0

No. 3 – Rick Spielman (1981)

• Opponent – Akron St. Vincent (6-0); finished the season as state champions with a 12-1 record
• QB numbers – 9 of 16 for 202 yards and 1 touchdown; rushed for 39 yards; 72% of the offense
• Key receivers – Larry Newman (3)
• Final score – 9-7
• The story – St. Vincent was undefeated and enroute to the Division 3 state title.  Meanwhile, Massillon was struggling to find itself, while sitting on a 4-2 record and coming off a 26-24 upset at the hands of Barberton.  Someone needed to step up and that someone was Rick Spielman.  The first-year quarterback put up 241 yards of offense by running and passing and led his team to a major upset of the parochial school power.  In the second quarter Rick hit George Roknich on a 64-yard touchdown pass.  The Irish went ahead 7-6 in the third, but Rick responded and drove his team downfield for a game-winning 21-yard field goal by Greg Radka.  The two key plays in the drive were a 43-yard pass to Gary Conley that moved the ball to the St. Vincent 30 and a 12-yard pass to Larry Newman, converting a 4^th and ten.  “I ran more to bring the halfback up,” said Spielman.  “When I run the ball it helps the passing game.  We worked a lot on our passing game this week to give me some confidence in throwing the ball and my receivers’ confidence in catching it.” – Massillon Independent

No. 4 – Lee Hurst (1989)

• Opponent – Akron Garfield (9-1); playoffs regional finals
• QB numbers – 10 of 14 for 174 yards and 3 touchdowns; 59% of the offense
• Key receivers – Rameir Martin (4), Doug Harig (3)
• Final score – 43-7
• The story – Hurst was in fire throughout and put this game in the bag by halftime, with the Massillon owning a 29-7 lead.  Included in that was a 4-yard pass to Harig and his own 11-yard TD run on a naked boot.  In the second half Lee added touchdown passes of 50 yards to Martin and 20 yards to Harig.

Other Great Hurst Performances

• 1989 – Middletown (1-1); finished the season 9-3 – Stats: 16 of 27 for 189 yards and 2 touchdowns – Score 17-7
• 1989 – Akron Garfield (9-1); playoff game – Stats: 10 of 14 for 174 yards and 3 touchdowns – Score: 43-7

No. 5 – Mike Scott (1984)

• Opponent – Stow (4-1); finished the season 8-2
• QB numbers – 19 of 32 for 302 yards and 2 touchdowns; 57% of the offense
• Key receivers – Bruce Spicer (8); Irwin Hastings (4); Wes Siegenthaler (4)
• Final score – 38-31
• The story – Massillon held a slim 20-19 lead in first half action, including a 40-yard TD pass from Scott to Spicer.  During that 12-play, 75-yard drive, every play was a pass from Scott.  Another touchdown pass in third quarter, a 10-yarder to Hastings, put the Tigers up 32-19.  Massillon then held on for the win.  Scott was consistent throughout the game.  And his final pass of the night, coming on third and eight, was 30 yards to Spicer to seal the victory.

Other Great Scott Performances

• 1984 – Perry (7-1); finished the season 8-2; Stats: 17 of 29 for 179 yards and 1 touchdown – Score 10-0

Honorable Mention

• 1976 – Bret Traylor – Steubenville; finished the season 7-2-1 – Stats 9 of 15 for 177 yards and 1 touchdown – Score: 10-0
• 1980 – Dave Eberhart – Massillon Perry (0-0); finished the season 8-2; Stats: 9 of 11 for 85 yards and 0 touchdowns – Score: 30-13
• 1980 – Dave Eberhart – Akron Garfield (1-1); finished the season 7-2; Stats: 12 of 19 for 125 yards and 2 touchdowns – Score: 22-21
• 1982 – Brian Dewitz – Sharon, PA (6-0); finished the season 9-1; Stats: 11 of 18 for 140 yards a 1 touchdown – Score: 28-7

THE ERA OF RUN DOMINATION (1959-1975)

In this era offenses traditionally used run-oriented attacks, passing the ball around 20% of the time.  In addition, the passing attacks had limited effectiveness, with teams normally completing around 40% of their attempts.  Therefore, quarterbacks in this era are grouped together.

Note:  Massillon did not retain Individual player statistics prior to 1959.

No. 1 – Greg Wood (1974)

• Opponent – Canton McKinley (9-0); rivalry game
• QB numbers – 7 of 10 for 119 yards and 2 touchdowns; 51% of the offense
• Key receivers – Eddy Bell (4)
• Final score – 20-15
• The story – Undefeated Canton McKinley, in position to lock up a playoff spot with a win, presented a tall task for this 5-4 Massillon team.  But, in front of a sold-out crowd of 21,754, the Tigers pulled off an unbelievable upset on this sunny Saturday afternoon.  Massillon surprised the Pups by tallying twice in the first half to take a 14-0 lead into the locker room.  In the first quarter Wood finished off a 71-yard drive by connecting with Mark Streeter on a 24-yard touchdown pass.  Then, in the second frame, Wood engineered a 63-yard drive and scored with his own 2-yard run.

But throughout the second half, up until the final minutes, it was all Bulldogs, albeit the Tigers did come up short on a field goal attempt.  Two scores cut the margin to 14-12 and then, after McKinley recovered an onside kick, they played for a go-ahead field goal.  The plan worked and Roch Hontas ended the short drive with a 24-yard field goal with 73 seconds left on the clock to give the Bulldogs a 15-14 lead.  All they needed now to secure the win was to continue playing the outstanding defense they had all season.  But Wood had other ideas.

Three down-and-out passes of 12, 9 and 12 yards to Bell less a quarterback sack advanced the ball to the McKinley 34 with just 13 seconds left.  Somehow on the next play Wood sidestepped to avoid a heavy blitz and unloaded a long pass to Eddie Bell, who had beaten his defender down the right sideline.  Bell then caught the ball in stride at the goal line uncontested for the game-winner.  For Tiger fans, pandemonium ensued.  And for that brief moment in time, Greg Wood was the most famous person in Tigertown.

“I just couldn’t believe it when I saw Eddie Bell in the open,” Shuff said of the 34-yard pass the 5-foot-10, 154-pound senior split end caught (in the end zone) from classmate Greg Wood.  It came as the Tigers merely were driving for field position to give placekicker Dave Dowd a shot at a field goal attempt.  “I don’t think we could call for another ounce of energy out of any of our boys,” Shuff said of the physically drained coaches and players. – Canton Repository’s Mike Zemelka

No. 2 – Ron Swartz (1963)

• Opponent – Cleveland Benedictine (6-1-1); finished the season with a 7-2-1 record
• QB numbers – 8 of 14 for 205 yards and 2 touchdowns; 67% of the offense
• Key receivers – Will Perry (4)
• Final score – 22-0
• The story – In an era when few passes were thrown in a game, Swartz lit it up with over 200 yards passing.  And it was much needed, since the Bennies held Massillon to just 100 yards on the ground for the game.  In the second quarter Swartz connected with Will Perry on a 78-yard touchdown pass.  It came off of play-action and Perry, after having beaten the defender, secured the ball at the 40 and raced the remaining distance to the end zone.  In the third quarter, Swartz again found Perry, this time from 21-yards out.

No. 3 – Kevin Westover (1972)

• Opponent – Canton McKinley (8-1); rivalry game
• QB numbers – 6 of 9 for 155 yards and 1 touchdown; 54% of the offense
• Key receivers – Terry Edwards (3)
• Final score – 12-3
• The story – In front of 22,371 fans at Tiger Stadium, Westover engineered his team’s offense to a pair of touchdowns that were sufficient to polish off an undefeated regular season and propel Massillon into the first-ever Ohio playoffs at Ohio State Stadium.  The first score came in the second quarter on a 3^rd and 8 situation when Westover unloaded a bomb to Greg Sullivan for a 64-yard touchdown.  “That was the most important pass of my life,” Westover said of the first touchdown.  I had the option of running or throwing deep. I saw Greg had him beaten and I threw it deep.”  “Kevin Westover was magnificent,” bubbled Commings.  “His passing was great. Greg Sullivan’s catching was great. The backs ran hard. The defense was superb. And our coach called a great game,” he quipped. – Canton Repository’s Bob Stewart

The Tigers would score again in the same frame when Westover plowed over the goal line from the one.

Greatest Massillon Player Performance Series, Part 1 – Spread…

This is the first part of a series on the greatest performances by Massillon players, as selected by the Booster Club Football Museum staff.   Three distinct eras are considered in order to account for the variations in offensive styles.  Part 1 focuses on the quarterbacks during the era of the spread offense (1998-2021).

In determining the best quarterback performance it’s not a matter of which player had the most yards or the most touchdown passes or the highest efficiency rating.  If you’re interesting in those numbers you can read about them in the Records section of this website.  Surely, the stats for a QB should be better than average.  But what’s missing in many of those records is the challenge presented by the caliber of the opponent.  This then is a key component.  Another factor is the degree to which the quarterback had influence in the outcome.  Was the running game shut down, forcing a move strictly to a passing attack?  Was the quarterback a major factor at the end in pulling out a win?  Here then are the criteria used in this analysis?

• The quarterback must have had better than average passing statistics.
• The opponent must have had a top-level record and presented a significant challenge to the offense, particularly coming from the secondary.
• The passing game must have contributed a major percentage of the total offense.
• If required, the quarterback must have been a significant factor in pulling out the win at the end.

Finally, let’s not forget the receivers who were on the other ends of these outstanding passing performances.

THE ERA OF THE SPREAD OFFENSE (1998-2021)

Massillon began using the spread offense in 1998 when Rick Shepas became the head coach and it has been the offense of choice for all Massillon coaches since.  With anywhere between three and five wide receivers in the formation, the tendency has been to throw the ball around 40% of the time, more than during previous years.  Therefore, the presentation groups the quarterbacks from this era together.

Since passing is more prevalent with the spread offense, it stands to reason that there would be many great quarterback performances from which to choose, making the selections extremely difficult.  But two performances stood above the rest: Bobby Huth in the 2005 playoff game against Lakewood St. Edward and Aidan Longwell in the 2018 game against East St. Louis.  And even choosing the best between these two was a difficult task.  But in the end it was the St. Edward game due to the significance of the outcome at the time; i.e. the state semifinals.  The next eight are also outstanding and perhaps could have been ranked in any order.  Here is our list:

No. 1 – Bobby Huth (2005)

• Opponent – Lakewood St. Edward (12-0); Division 1 State Semifinals
• QB numbers – 14 of 20 for 230 yards and 2 touchdowns; 91% of the offense
• Key receivers – Brian Gamble (5), Zack Vanryzin (3)
• Final score – 21-17
• The story – A large Rubber Bowl crowd of 14,100 huddled together to watch two of Ohio’s state powers do battle on this cold and snowy Saturday afternoon.  For local fans it was an opportunity to see if Massillon (11-1) could to return to the state finals for the first time in 23 years.  But first they needed to get by one of the best teams in the state, if not the country; one that was undefeated also craving its first playoff state title.  Throughout the game St. Edward held the vaunted Tiger running game in check, eventually limiting it to 24 yards in total.  That forced the Tigers to the air.  In the first quarter Huth connected with a wide-open Vanryzin on a 67-yard touchdown bomb to give his team a 7-0 lead.  But the Eagles quickly settled down and began to pound away, eventually leading 17-7 midway through the fourth quarter.

That’s when Bobby did his best work.  First, he engineered an 8-play 62-yard drive, with Gamble securing an 18-yard pass in the end zone for a score, cutting the margin to three points.  Along the way Huth completed passes to Brett Huffman of 6 and 13 yards and another to Gamble for 14.  The Tigers held St. Eds in the ensuing possession and Huth then drove his team downfield for the winning score, moving 55 yards in eight plays.  But the drive was not without some nail-biting toward the end.  On first and ten at the Eagle 29 the center snapped the ball prematurely and Huth was forced to fall on it near midfield, some 30 yards from the first down stick.  After an incomplete pass, Bobby found Gamble on a crossing route and Gamble sprinted the remaining distance down the left sideline to pick up the first down.  It was simply an inconceivable conversion of a 3^rd and 30 situation.  Huth, who was 5 for 6 on the drive, then hit Gamble on a 9-yard pass to the five.  Finally, Brian finished it off with a run up the middle, with 1:56 left on the clock.  The Tigers then held St. Ed’s on its final possession and secured the victory.

“I was looking for B.G.,” Huth said. “He was supposed to run a deep post over the middle, and he saw the safety over the top.  We were just on the same page.  I just threw it to him, and he was there.  He had a good run after the play.” – Independent story

“Once they started going pass first and spreading, we didn’t come up with the answer,” said Eagle Coach John Gibbons.  “We tried to get the ball quick out of the quarterback’s hand, and he was very elusive and he found guys.  It was hard for us to run with those guys in man, especially when the quarterback was getting in open spaces.  Then we tried to mix it up and use some zone coverages and take the pressure off that way and they seemed to adjust their routes.  They just made great plays.” — Independent story

Other Great Huth Performances

• 2006 – Massillon Perry (9-1); Division 1 playoffs first round – Stats: 11 of 16 for 260 yards and 3 touchdowns – Score: 41-20

No. 2 – Aidan Longwell (2018)

• Opponent – East St. Louis, IL (5-1); finished the season 9-3
• QB numbers – 16 of 26 for 260 yards and 3 touchdowns; 65% of the offense
• Key receivers – Tre’von Morgan (8), Jamir Thomas (4); Jayden Ballard (3)
• Final score – 46-40
• The story – Massillon was surely the underdog while facing this out-of-state national power, a team that possessed unbelievable team speed and athleticism.  But Massillon held its own and kept it close throughout, with the final points coming late in the fourth quarter.  ESL scored on its first possession.  Two minutes later the Tigers responded when Longwell hit Morgan on a 16-yard touchdown pass, closing the gap to 8-7.  In the second quarter Aidan again hooked up with Morgan, this time for 39 yards, but the Tigers ultimately trailed 20-10 at the half.

That was about to change, at least for a while.  A 39-yard TD pass to Morgan, his third of the night, cut the deficit to 20-17.  And then Longwell called his own number with a double lateral and throwback pass from Ballard to the QB for a 19-yard score to take a 24-20 lead.  But it was short-lived.  ESL came right back with a pair of touchdowns to lead 34-24.  The Tigers battled back, but were behind 40-38 with 5:26 remaining.

So it was time for the game-winning drive.  It started with 22-yard completion to Thomas on a wheel route that advanced the ball to the ESL 43.  After two rushing attempts gained four yards, Aidan unloaded a 3^rd down pass to Jayden Ballard, who snagged the bomb in the end zone just before going out the back end.  It was the final points of the night and the Tigers were able to control the remaining three and a half minutes to take home the win.

“The offense kept us in the game,” Massillon coach Nate Moore said. “The defense got the stop when they did.  Hats off to the kids for keep playing hard.” – Massillon Independent

Other Great Longwell Performances

• 2018 – Austintown Fitch (4-1); finished the season 8-3 – Stats: 13 of 20 for 263 yards and 4 touchdowns – Score 42-14
• 2018 – Wadsworth (12-1); Division 2 regional finals – Stats: 17 of 25 for 305 yards and 4 touchdowns – Score 41-19
• 2019 – Akron St. Vincent (0-0); finished the season 8-3 – Stats: 20 of 23 for 322 yards and 2 touchdowns – Score: 44-14
• 2019 – Penn-Trafford, Harrison City, PA (4-0) – Stats.: 14 of 15 for 225 yards and 4 touchdowns – Score: 42-21
• 2019 – Massillon Perry (9-2); Division 2 playoffs – Stats: 19 of 26 for 337 yards and 5 touchdowns – Score 35-7

No. 3 – Matt Martin (2002)

• Opponent – Massillon Perry (10-1); Division 1 regional finals
• QB numbers – 21 of 29 for 293 yards and 2 touchdowns; 90% of the offense
• Key receivers – Devin Jordan (7), Stephon Ashcraft (4), Billy Relford (4)
• Final score – 23-21
• The story – Martin was on fire the entire night and he needed to be, because Perry had held Massillon on the ground to just 33 yards and owned a 21-20 lead late in the fourth quarter.  One more big completion was needed and it came on a bomb to Jordan, who secured a back-shoulder pass at the 25 yard line.  Then, with time running out, Max Shafer drilled a game-winning 35-yard field goal.  Matt completed six straight passes during the 57-yard drive.

No. 4 – Kyle Kempt (2012)

• Opponent – Austintown Fitch (6-0); finished the season 9-2
• QB numbers – 18 of 25 for 308 yards and 4 touchdowns; 57% of the offense
• Key receivers – Marcus Whitfield (6), Gareon Conley (5), Erne Baez (3)
• Final score – 34-14
• The story – Kempt threw four touchdown passes in the first half to help Massillon open a 27-7 halftime lead.  He then controlled the action the rest of the way to secure the win.  It was Fitch’s only regular season loss.

Other Great Kempt Performances

• 2012 – Steubenville (4-0); finished the season 9-3 – Stats 12 of 18 for 160 yards and 2 touchdowns – Score 24-7
• 2012 – Akron St. Vincent (7-1); Division 3 state champion – Stats: 14 of 22 for 216 yards and 3 touchdowns – Score 44-23

No. 5 – Justin Zwick (2001)

• Opponent – Canton McKinley (8-1); rivalry game; finished the season 8-3
• QB numbers – 16 of 25 for 256 yards and 2 touchdowns; 61% of the offense
• Key receivers – Devin Jordan (10)
• Final score – 29-26
• The story – Massillon led at half on the strength of two Zwick touchown passes.  The first was an 11-yarder to Stephon Ashcraft and the second a 36-yarder to Jordan.  But McKinley came back in the third quarter to lead 26-22 with 2:52 left in the game.  Justin then grabbed his moment in the sun by moving the team 72 yards for the game-winning score.  Along the way he completed both of his passes for 27 yards, setting up a final run by Robert Oliver.  An interception in the end zone by Craig McConnell on the Bulldogs’ final possession sealed the victory.

Other Great Zwick Performances

• 2000 – Akron Garfield (1-1); finished the season 8-2 – Stats: 29 of 43 for 375 yards and 2 touchdowns – Score: 51-26
• 2001 – Akron Garfield (1-1); finished the season 7-3 – Stats: 16 of 23 for 233 yards and 3 touchdowns – Score: 59-0
• 2001 – Mansfield (4-1); finished the season 7-4 – Stats: 24 of 37 for 231 yards and 0 touchdowns – Score: 17-14
• 2001 – Canton McKinley (8-2); playoffs second round – Stats: 24 of 33 for 239 yards and 3 touchdowns – Score: 35-19
• 2001 – North Canton (11-1); playoffs third round – Stats: 23 of 28 for 252 yards and 2 touchdowns – Score: 27-7

No. 6 – Zach Catrone (2020)

• Opponent – Massillon Perry (9-0); Division 2 regional finals
• QB numbers – 10 of 10 for 234 yards and 3 touchdowns; 70% of the offense
• Key receivers – Jayden Ballard (7)
• Final score – 43-13
• The story – Catrone couldn’t miss in this playoff game and engineered his team to a 43-13 victory over previously undefeated Perry.  In the first half he tossed a 72-yard bomb to Jayden Ballard, but that was Massillon’s only score and they trailed 7-6 while headed to the locker room.  In the second half, the Tigers caught fire and scored five times, including two TD passes to Ballard, of 15 and 33 yards, to win going away.  Massillon was held to just 102 yards on the ground for the game, but Zach made up for the deficit by completing all ten of his pass attempts.

No. 7 – Seth Blankenship (2015)

• Opponent – Massillon Perry (0-0); Division 2 state runner-up
• QB numbers – 15 of 20 for 188 yards and 2 touchdowns; 57% of the offense
• Key receivers – Keyshawn Watson (7); Austin Jasinski (5); Todd Fichter (3)
• Final score – 41-37
• The story – It was Nate Moore’s first game as a Massillon coach, against a favored Perry team.  But the Tigers jumped on the Panthers early.  In the first quarter Blankenship connected with Watson on a 52-yard touchdown pass to open a 20-0 lead.  Then in the third quarter, he extended the lead to 34-7 with a 33-yard TD pass to Jasinski.  But Perry mounted a fierce comeback and eventually took a 37-34 lead with 5:17  on the clock.  That’s when Blankenship led his Tigers on a 60-yard drive to secure the win, with Dakota Dunwiddie scoring from two yards out with just 3:34 left.

No. 8 – Dave Irwin (1999)

• Opponent – Massillon Perry (4-2)
• QB numbers – 18 of 25 for 273 yards and 3 touchdowns; 74% of the offense
• Key receivers – Joe Price (6); Rocky Dorsey (3); Anthony Battle (3)
• Final score – 35-14
• The story – The first half was a defensive affair and the two teams entered the locker room tied at seven.  But in the second half, the Tigers went to work behind the accurate arm of Dave Irwin.  After a Jesse Scott 5-yard run for the lead, Irwin tossed three touchdown passes.  The first came in the third quarter. a was a 22-yarder to Dorsey.  After a Perry score cut the margin to 21-14 in the fourth, Irwin capped the night by finishing off two scoring drives with touchdown passes of 43 yards to Dorsey and 9 yards to Price.

Other Great Irwin Performances

• 1999 – Canton McKinley (7-2); finished the season 8-4 – Stats: 12 of 130 yards and 3 touchdowns – Score 35-7

No. 9 – Robert Partridge (2009)

• Opponent – Warren Harding (4-2-1); finished the season 6-3-1
• QB numbers – 17 of 27 for 260 yards and 5 touchdowns; 67% of the offense
• Key receivers – Devin Smith (5); Bo Grunder (5); Brandon Pedro (3)
• Final score – 39-21
• The story – The first five Massillon touchdowns were courtesy of Partridge’s arm as the Tigers opened up a 32-14 lead late in the third quarter.  In the first half he connected for TDs with Smith for 32 yards, Justin Olack for 30 yards and Tyler Allman for 16 yards.  In the second half it was a pair of touchdowns tosses to Smith for 13 and 19 yards.  The final points were scored on the ground by Alex Winters from one yard out.  The five touchdown passes ranks second all-time.

Other Great Partridge Performances

• 2009 – Mentor (5-3); finished the season 6-4 – Stats: 14 of 20 for 233 yards and 3 touchdowns – Score: 28-20

Greatest Performance by a Massillon Quarterback in a Loss

Danny Clark (2013)

• Opponent – Austintown Fitch (6-0); finished season 12-1 and state semifinalist
• QB numbers – 16 of 23 for 358 yards and 2 touchdowns; 70% of the offense
• Key receivers – Marcus Whitfield (6); Reggie Rogers (5); Beau Huffman (3)
• Final score – 27-30
• The story – Down 30-14 with 4:45 left to play, Clark connected with Reggie Rogers on passing touchdowns of 80 and 72 yards to close the gap to 30-27.  After forcing Fitch to punt, Danny drove his team to the ten yard line, completing 5 of 8 passes for 60 yards.  But, following a procedure penalty that negated a touchdown, Clark’s run on the final play of the game was stopped at the four as time expired.